Bardstown Bourbon Company Cascadia Garryana Oak Barrel Finish

A little background

Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Cascadia Garryana Oak Barrel Finish is a technical exploration within the brand’s Distillery Reserve series, focusing on the unique properties of Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana). This expression was finished for 10 months in 10 custom barrels handmade by Oregon Barrel Works, which utilized a specific three-hour toast to maximize extraction from the rare Pacific Northwest hardwood. Following previous experimental releases like Hokkaido Mizunara Oak and Normandie Calvados, Cascadia emphasizes regional terroir and small-scale innovation, utilizing sanctioned harvests of Garryana oak to influence a blend of mature, high-age statement whiskeys.

The final liquid is bottled at 107.5 proof (53.75% ABV) and features a precise blend of three distinct components: 80% is a 10-year-old Kentucky bourbon (70% Corn / 18% Rye / 12% Malted Barley), 12% is a 10-year-old Indiana bourbon (75% Corn / 21% Rye / 4% Malted Barley), and the remaining 8% is a 9-year-old Kentucky bourbon (74% Corn / 18% Rye / 8% Malted Barley). Offered at $99.99 per 375mL bottle, this release is available exclusively at the Bardstown Bourbon Company distillery gift shop and their Louisville Tasting Room. The series continues to serve as a platform for Master Blender Dan Callaway to integrate complex mash bills with non-traditional barrel finishes and meticulous proofing techniques.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Dark Gold

Nose

Toasted Oak, Baking Spices (Clove/Nutmeg), Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Leather.

Palate

Cigar Box, Butterscotch, Baking Spices (Clove/Nutmeg), Heavy Tannins, Dark Fruit, Caramel.

Finish

Dark Chocolate, Pipe Tobacco, Dry Oak, Vanilla, Lingering Spice.

In closing

The Bardstown Bourbon Company Cascadia Garryana Oak Barrel Finish stands as a sophisticated, albeit polarizing, masterclass in wood science. For enthusiasts who prioritize a unique wood expression and a complex spice profile, this release is a triumph of innovation. The experience is bookended by a wonderful nose of toasted oak and brown sugar and a long, warming finish of dark chocolate and pipe tobacco. However, the high-tannin nature of the Quercus garryana makes this a distinctly dry bourbon; those who prefer a “sweet-heat” profile may find the cigar box and heavy tannins on the palate a bit demanding.

From a value perspective, the $100 price point for a 375mL bottle places this firmly in the “collector” category. Combined with its limited accessibility as a Kentucky distillery-exclusive, Cascadia is less of an everyday sipper and more of a technical showcase for Master Blender Dan Callaway’s boundary-pushing methods. If you enjoy high-age statement bourbons with a bold, savory, and dry finish, this is a singular tasting experience that justifies the pilgrimage to Bardstown. It is a bold, innovative bottle that cements the Distillery Reserve series as one of the most exciting experimental lines in the industry today.

NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Bardstown Bourbon Company. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.